NTA reporter shot dead in Benin

Lawrence Okojie, a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Benin, was allegedly shot dead by gunmen on Saturday night in Benin, Edo state capital.

Okojie was reported to have been killed around Ogunola junction, off Siluko road in the ancient city.

Moses Nkombe, spokesman of the state police command, who confirmed the report, said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The late Okojie, who was dropped off by NTA staff bus at Ogunola junction around 8pm on Saturday, had reportedly called his wife on phone and informed her that he was on his way home.

It was, however, several hours later that the wife, after repeated calls to his phone without any response, raised the alarm that her husband, who was supposed to have arrived home, could not be reached.

It was gathered that some of his colleagues at NTA, who joined some family members on a search mission, discovered his corpse in a morgue in Benin.

As of the time of filing this report, the circumstances surrounding the death of the reporter are still sketchy.

The police have, however, promised to thoroughly investigate the matter.

Okojie’s death brings to five the number of journalists killed in the state in the last six years.